Southern Circuit
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Waterfalls, rainforest and primates found nowhere else
About Udzungwa Mountains National Park
The Udzungwa Mountains are called the Galápagos of Africa: an ancient rainforest range so isolated that species evolved here found nowhere else on Earth, including the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje mangabey.
This is a hiker's park — trails climb through dense forest to the triple-drop Sanje waterfalls with views over the Kilombero valley. Udzungwa slots perfectly into a southern circuit between Mikumi and Ruaha.
Wildlife
What You'll See
- Iringa Red Colobus
- Sanje Mangabey
- Elephant
- Forest birds
Activities
What You Can Do
- Sanje waterfall hike
- Forest trails
- Birdwatching
Walking country
The Galapagos of Africa
Udzungwa is not a game-drive park. There are no roads through it and no vehicle circuits — you explore entirely on foot, which makes it unique among Tanzania's major parks and a completely different proposition from the savannah reserves.
The mountains are part of the Eastern Arc, an ancient chain sometimes called the Galapagos of Africa because of how much of its wildlife exists nowhere else. Udzungwa alone holds several primate species found only here, including the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje mangabey, which was unknown to science until 1979. Botanists have recorded plants here that occur on a single hillside and nowhere on earth besides.
The signature walk climbs to Sanje Falls, a 170-metre waterfall dropping in three stages through rainforest, with a swimming pool at the middle tier and a view across the Kilombero valley from the top. It takes most of a day and it is genuinely steep.
What you do
Udzungwa Highlights
Sanje Waterfall
A 170-metre fall in three stages, with a plunge pool at the middle tier you can swim in. Four to five hours return, steep in places, and the reason most people come.
Endemic primates
The Iringa red colobus and Sanje mangabey live here and nowhere else. Six primate species in total, and they are seen on most forest walks.
Eastern Arc forest
Ancient montane rainforest with an extraordinary concentration of endemic plants, amphibians and insects — a genuinely important place, not just a pretty one.
Serious hiking
Longer routes run to Mwanihana Peak over two or three days with camping, for walkers who want more than a day hike.
Planning
Udzungwa FAQs
Can I do a game drive in Udzungwa?
No — and this is the most important thing to know before booking. There are no game-viewing roads inside the park. Everything is done on foot with a guide, and the wildlife is forest wildlife: primates, birds, butterflies and, rarely, elephant sign rather than lion and elephant on open plains. Visitors expecting a conventional safari are disappointed; visitors expecting a rainforest hike are delighted.
How fit do I need to be?
Reasonably. The Sanje Falls walk climbs steeply through forest for two to three hours each way on uneven, often slippery ground, and it is hot and humid. Sturdy shoes with grip are essential. Shorter walks are available for those who want the forest without the climb, and longer multi-day treks exist for those who want more.
How does it fit into an itinerary?
Naturally alongside Mikumi, which is an hour or two away on the same road, and often as a stop between Dar es Salaam and Ruaha. Two nights lets you do the falls walk properly and one shorter forest trail. It is a change of pace rather than a substitute for a savannah park.
Gallery
A Glimpse of Udzungwa Mountains National Park
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